Nail Clipping - still feared after 24 years!

VickiA

VickiA

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Just thought I’d share this thought with you all. I’ve kept piggies for well over 20 years. And clipping the nails of my own piggies still fills me with angst.

Today MrA and I caught all 6 of our piggies and gave them a pedicure. They have to be some of the squirmiest, squeakiest piggies ever! Today Holly and Boris were the only ones who didn’t scream with every clip of the clippers. The other 4 sounded like they were being murdered. Worst culprit was Ralphie. So much for being a brave, manly boar. Next worst was Hazel (who incidentally is the squirmiest piggy, too). Evie felt the need to bite and tug my clothes & then the skin on the back of my hand to let me know her great displeasure. Iris (14 pink and white toes) insisted on jumping as if she’d received an electric shock with each nail clipped as well as squeaking with each clip.

Job done for another few weeks. Should give my nerves enough time to recover.....
 
I did my lot yesterday, they all have a mixture of colours, thicknesses and temperaments, I'm sure they pick up on my nervousness and play up. I've been watching Saskia at LA Guinea Pig Rescue on YouTube and she makes it look so easy. Yesterday I set up a work station with everything I needed at a good height. Full of confidence I started clipping - no more wrestling matches with OH holding a wriggling piggy, this is going to be done the Saskia way. Sweet Peanut was a dream, his scary black nails were clipped in no time. Forget it with the rest of them back to the two man wrestle. I shall keep trying though these little balls of flying fluff and big teeth will not defeat me and my clippers. :))
 
piggieminder said:
I did my lot yesterday, they all have a mixture of colours, thicknesses and temperaments, I'm sure they pick up on my nervousness and play up. I've been watching Saskia at LA Guinea Pig Rescue on YouTube and she makes it look so easy. Yesterday I set up a work station with everything I needed at a good height. Full of confidence I started clipping - no more wrestling matches with OH holding a wriggling piggy, this is going to be done the Saskia way. Sweet Peanut was a dream, his scary black nails were clipped in no time. Forget it with the rest of them back to the two man wrestle. I shall keep trying though these little balls of flying fluff and big teeth will not defeat me and my clippers. :))
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It’s the thumbs that get me, I find the thumbs so difficult to cut, they are always hidden away with the other nails somehow! luckily the girls have light nails but Bill and Ted with their black nails where so much harder to see 🥴
 
piggieminder said:
I did my lot yesterday, they all have a mixture of colours, thicknesses and temperaments, I'm sure they pick up on my nervousness and play up. I've been watching Saskia at LA Guinea Pig Rescue on YouTube and she makes it look so easy. Yesterday I set up a work station with everything I needed at a good height. Full of confidence I started clipping - no more wrestling matches with OH holding a wriggling piggy, this is going to be done the Saskia way. Sweet Peanut was a dream, his scary black nails were clipped in no time. Forget it with the rest of them back to the two man wrestle. I shall keep trying though these little balls of flying fluff and big teeth will not defeat me and my clippers. :))
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I love your description of the 2 man wrestle. That’s exactly how it was with ours today:yikes:
 
Bill & Ted said:
It’s the thumbs that get me, I find the thumbs so difficult to cut, they are always hidden away with the other nails somehow! luckily the girls have light nails but Bill and Ted with their black nails where so much harder to see 🥴
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Older piggy curly thumbs... trying to gently prise them out from the rest of the toes...
 
I refused to do it, point blank. Especially when I had B & C, I have a hand tremor anyway but the minute something happens to boost my heart rate, even slightly, I can barely hold even a cigarette still. No way would I risk nail clipping with that. It was vets or nothing, heh.
C wasn't a problem really. He'd just sit and let you do it with that mournful "why must you do this evil thing to me" look. B, on the other hand, I thought he had 3 black feet and 1 white foot for ages because I never got the chance to see them properly. Even when the vet did them as I held him, you had to be quick or he'd nip hard and it was a matter of getting it done as quickly as possible. I felt a bit guilty when I realised I had the black and white foot ratios muddled up :oops:
 
Seeshell said:
I’ve just trimmed both my piggies nails for the first time ever tonight. I was surprised how well it went, without any squeaks! Very pleased with myself as these are the first piggies I’ve ever had x
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Bill & Ted said:
Wow! I’ll send mine round! 😆
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Me, too. Well done @Seeshell - you must teach me your piggy hypnosis trick!
 
eileen said:
Now I must be mad,but I like trimming guinea pigs nails.i do 21 piggies nails once a month on the same day!I am quite quick,its all done before they have time to think about it !
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You want to come do mine?! Ive got 56 toes, 75% of which are black! 1/2 of the piggies behave themselves. The other half 🙄
 
VickiA said:
Me, too. Well done @Seeshell - you must teach me your piggy hypnosis trick!
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I took some tips from good old YouTube! I used the wrapping up technique. Wrapped them in one of their little blankets and sat them up against me then did each little tootsie by popping out the blanket. No wriggling or squealing and was over in less than 10 minutes tops for both.
 
My piggie teacake used to be a dream with nail trims despite having all black nails I’d just put a piece of fruit in front of her and she’d happily munch away while I clipped, her sister Bonnie on the other hand makes her feelings heard loud and clear and is the reason I’ve got bite marks on my clippers and often ones on my hands aswell ! 😆
 
I must admit it still gives me some apprehension with the newer piggies! Thistles are a nightmare with her poor deformed toes, getting them at an angle I can actually get them in the clippers is a bit of a challenge! And Tillys wobbly head gets in the way half the time on top of black nails, then there is Hazel who likes to turn into a bar of soap..again, on top of having black nails.
The only time I question why I have 14 piggies is when I have to sit and trim 196 nails 😂
 
Eriathwen said:
I must admit it still gives me some apprehension with the newer piggies! Thistles are a nightmare with her poor deformed toes, getting them at an angle I can actually get them in the clippers is a bit of a challenge! And Tillys wobbly head gets in the way half the time on top of black nails, then there is Hazel who likes to turn into a bar of soap..again, on top of having black nails.
The only time I question why I have 14 piggies is when I have to sit and trim 196 nails 😂
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Hazel sounds like my Elvis. He's a slippery seal when he needs to be 🤣
 
We are getting better at it..... still jump when they flinch tho! Daisy has a weird toenail which does freak me out 🙈🙈 will post a pic one day...
 
What is the electric shock thing about? Jenny is a particular diva for that with her hands. She has quite curly nails so getting the clippers in can be a challenge so she will sit and then just as I’m ready to snip she will flinch like shes had 10000 volts up her bum! So I have to start again.
 
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